Detachable burner assembly

ABSTRACT

The invention disclosed herein describes a burner assembly having a plurality of burners being detachably connected to a burner manifold. The attaching means includes a spring-biased grommet connected to the mouth of each burner for insertion over a grooved surface of a respective gas jet which, in turn, is threadedly connected to the burner manifold. The other end of each burner includes a flanged end that is insertable into a slot formed within a support bar located on the rear side of the combustion chamber. To remove a burner from the assembly the rear end of the burner is lifted out of the slot in the support bar; then the mouth of the burner is detached from the gas orifice, thereby permitting easy service access to the individual burners and their respective gas jets.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert M. Ramey North Hollywood, Calif. [21] Appl. No. 844,488 [22] Filed July 24, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee Teledyne,lnc.

' Los Angeles, Calif.

54 nETAcnABIlE BURNER ASSEMBLY 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 431/180, 431/343 511 meet F2311 13/24 [50] Field of Search 431/154, 179,180, 343, 354; 126/39 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 783,181 2/1905 De Freitas 126/39 1,844,768 2/1932 Kirby 126/39 6/1939 Chambers Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors Attorney.lackson & Jones ABSTRACT: The invention disclosed herein describes a burner assembly having a plurality of burners being detachably connected to a burner manifold. The attaching means includes a spring-biased grommet connected to the mouth of each burner for insertion over a grooved surface of a respective gas jet which, in turn, is threadedly connected to the burner manifold. The other end of each burner includes a flanged end that is insertable into a slot formed within a support bar located on the rear side of the combustion chamber. To remove a burner from the assembly the rear end of the burner is lifted out of the slot in the support bar; then the mouth of the burner is detached from the gas orifice, thereby permitting easy service access to the individual burners and their respective gas jets.

, m L. UH.

DETACIIABLE BURNER ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to gas heating appliances and more particularly .to the burner assembly being utilized therein.

2. Description of the Prior Art In conventional gas heating appliances a burner manifold extends across the front face of a combustion chamber with a plurality of burners connected'to the manifold and extending through anopening on the front face of the combustion chamber into the interior thereof. The burners are longitudinally spaced along the entire width of the combustion chamber atthe bottom end thereof. Each burner is a tubular member that extends across the combustion chamber and includes a plurality of ports longitudinally spaced on the upper side thereof; A gas jet having a venturi nozzle formed therein is locatedwithin the mouth of each burner and is usually threadedly connected to the burner manifold. Airholes are also located at the mouth of each burner to permit primary air to be educted into the mouth of the burner.

In operation, gas under pressure is conducted through the burner manifold with a portion being expelled through the nozzle means of each gas jet under a high velocity. The stream of pressurized gas educts primary air from the airholes, after which the mixture traveling through each burner is ignited by a pilotburner as it passes through the burner ports and mixes with a quantity of combustion air entering the combustion chamber throughan air intake. The combustion takes place within the combustion chamber with the heat energy generated being transferred through a heat exchanger for heating the fluid traveling through the exchanger. The products of combustion are then usually vented through flue means to the atmosphere.

In such devices'the amount of pressurized gas being admitted into each burner is determined by the orifice size of the gas jet; The orifice size of gas jets, especially those used in outdoor heating appliances depends on many variables, such as barometric conditions and the type of fuel being used. Furthermore, being of a relatively small size, these orifices are susceptible of being clogged due to dirt deposits collecting therein. Moreover, because the proper orifice size of the gas jets can not always be predetermined for the various areas and locations, these gas jets often have to be interchanged to finally determine the most efficient size orifice to be used.

In prior gas heating appliances, the gas burners and burner manifolds are integrally mounted within the heater appliance. If it is desired to remove a burner for cleaning or repair, the entire assembly has to be removed. This requires considerable work in disassembling a gas control train-and disconnecting it from a wiring harness and the gas service connection. As stated previously, the gas jets also require extensive servicing. Since these jets are located within the mouths of the burners, the same tedious procedure of dismantling the entire burner assembly installation was necessary to change or clean the gas jets. As can be seen, such aprocedure is complex, time consuming and costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention obviates the above-mentioned shortcomings by providing a gas heatingappliance having a burner manifold with the gas burners being detachably connected to the gas jets serving the burners. 'Ihe attachment means includes a spring-biased grommet located at the mouth of each burner whichis adapted to be mounted over the outer surface of the gas jet. The opposite ends of the burners are flanged and are insertable into slots formed within a support bar located on the rear side of the combustion chamber. For removal of any of the bumersthe grommet located at the mouth of the burner is disengaged from the gas jet and the flanged end of the burner is lifted from the slot. The burner is then removed from the assembly without disturbing any other parts or components of the appliance.

Utilizing this inventive concept, the individual burners can be conveniently removed for servicing while also permitting easy service access to the gas jets. In addition to the ease of service, the floating type of mounting'of the flanged ends of the burners permit the different members of the firebox frame to expand and contract at different rates without pulling on or disengaging the burner from its mounting orfrom the gas jct. Furthermore, the attaching means on the burner retains the mouth of the burner in a fixed position with respect to the venturi throat of the gas jet and thereby achieves maximum efficiency in the injection of primary air into the burner.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a gas heating appliance whereby the heating elements are easily accessible. Another object of the invention is to provide a gas burner that is easily detachable from the main burner assembly to permit convenient servicing of the gas burner and the respective gas jets.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in consideration with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of the burner assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of a gas. burner utilized in the burner assembly;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the mouth of the gas burner;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the gas jet utilized in the burner assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the spring-biased grommet used to attach the mouth of the burner to the gas jet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, FIG. I shows a gas burner assembly generally indicated by arrow 10 located within a combustion chamber 11 of a gas heating appliance. The combustion chamber 11 includes four sidewalls I3 madeof fire brick to minimize the heat loss therefrom. The burner assembly 10 is located at the base of the combustion chamber 11 and includes a gas manifold 15 which extends along the front face of the combustion chamber 11. An opening is formed at the base of the front sidewall 13 to permit a plurality of burners 17 to extend therethrough. The burners 17 are longitudinally spaced along the length of the gas manifold 15 and ex tend across the combustion chamber 11 to the opposite side thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3,-each burner 17 includes a mouth portion 19 located at the forward end thereof and a flanged portion 21 being formed at the rear end thereof. The mouth portion 19 of each burner 17 includes a pair of arms 23 which are integrally connected to a mounting plate 25. A pair of openings is formed on the opposite sides of the arms 23 to permit the passage of primary air from the atmosphere into the mouth of the burner. The mounting plate has an aperture formed therein for receiving a spring-biased grommet 27 which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The grommet 27 is then adapted to be mounted upon a gas jet 29 which is threadedly connected to a gas manifold IS. The flanged end 21 of each of thebumers 17 is adapted to be inserted into a slot 30 formed on a support bar 31 which is connected to the rear sidewall 13 and extends along the entire width of the combustion chamber 11. A tab 33 is fonned on the flanged end 21 of each burner 17 and is projected laterally. The tab 33 is also adapted to be inserted in the en larged portion of the slot 30. Each burner also includes a plurality of ports 35 formed on the upper side thereof.

As shown in FIG. 4, each gas jet 29 includes a threaded end 37 for connection to the gas manifold 15. A bore 39is formed within the gas jet 29 with the opposite end being tapered inwardly to form a venturi nozzle 40. The outer surface of the opposite end is also tapered inwardly. The midportion of the gas jet is of a cylindrical surface 42 with an annular groove 43 formed thereon.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, each spring grommet 27 is of a split cylinder construction having a rounded portion 45 formed at one end thereof and a flanged portion 47 formed at the opposite end. A plurality of outwardly extending tongues 49 are formed in the split cylinder construction.

As stated previously, the grommet 27 extends into the aperture formed on the mounting plate 25 of each burner 17. This is accomplished by squeezing the two ends of the cylindrical surface of the grommet 27 together to make the cross-sectional area small enough to enter the aperture of the mounting plate 25. Upon insertion, the grommet 27 is then released to pennit the compressed ends thereof to flex outwardly to engage the walls of the mounting plate 25 forming the aperture. The flanged end 47 of the grommet 27 engages the front face of the mounting plate 25 while the tongues 49 engage the inner face thereof. The remaining portion of the grommet 27 extends into the mouth of the burner 17. To mount a burner 17 onto the burner assembly 10, the burner 17 is inserted into the combustion chamber 1 1 with the flanged end 21 extending toward the rear of the chamber, and the mouth of the burner 17 clearing the tip of the gas jet 29. The forward end of grommet 27 is then pulled over the tapered end 41 and the cylindrical surface 42 of the gas jet 29 with the rounded portion 45 being expanded until it snaps into the groove 43 of the gas jet 29. The flanged end 21 is then lowered into the registering slot 30 formed in the support bar 31.

The burner is now in its operable position. In operation the pressurized gas from the gas manifold 15 is emitted through the venturi nozzle of each gas jet 29 under a high velocity. Primary air is then educted from the atmosphere through the mouth of the gas burner 17. This mixture is then fed into the interior of the gas burner 17 and is expelled through the ports 35 spaced along the top side thereof. This mixture is then ignited by a pilot burner (not shown). A source of secondary air also combines with the mixture to aid in the combustion process. The rest of the operation functions in the conventional manner.

If it were desired to remove the burner 17 for servicing, or if it were desired to change the gas jets 29 or clean the orifices thereof, the flanged end 21 of the burner would be lifted from the slot 30 formed in the support bar 31 and then the burner would be pulled rearwardly with sufficient force to permit the rounded portion 45 of the grommet 27 to be detached from the annular groove 40 of the gas jet 29. ln such a manner each individual burner could be removed for servicing, while also permitting easy access to the respective gas jet 29.

An important advantage of such a dismantling procedure is that each burner 17 could be removed from the burner assembly without having to disturb or remove the other burners or to remove the gas manifold from the other components. Such a procedure is relatively simple, faster and less time consuming then the prior methods described earlier. Also, as noted earlier, this floating type of mounting permits the different members of the firebox and the frame to expand and contract at different rates without pulling on or disengaging the burners from their mounting or from the gas jets. Another advantage is that the retention device of each burner retains the mouth of the burner in a fixed position with respect to the venturi throat of the gas jet and therefore achieves maximum efficiency in the injection of primary air into the burner.

Although this appliance has been described as a gas-burning device, the burner assembly could easily be modified to operate in an oil-buming appliance.

What is claimed is:

l. A burner assembly for utilization in a combustion chamber of a heating appliance comprising:

a manifold extending across the front face of the combustion chamber;

a support assembly located on the rear side of the combustion chamber;

at least one burner having a first end having a mounting plate located thereon, and a second end supported on the support assembly;

a jet nozzle extending into the first end of a registering burner, said jet nozzle being connected to the manifold and having an annular groove formed thereon; and

a spring-biased cylindrical grommet connected to the mounting plate of the first end of the burner, said cylindrical grommet comprising an annular portion adapted to be snapped into engagement with the annular groove of said jet nozzle.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cylindrical grommet is of a split cylinder construction that is adapted to be inserted into an aperture formed on the mounting plate of the burner.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support assembly includes a support bar having a plurality of slots formed therein with the second end of said burner comprising a flanged portion that is adapted to be inserted into a slot formed on the support bar. I

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein the slot formed on the support means is of such a length to permit the burner to be removed rearwardly a sufficient distance to enable the first end thereof to move to the inner side of the jet nozzle for attachment therewith.

5. A burner for connection to a manifold in a heating appliance comprising:

an elongated tubular member having a first end forming a mouth portion, the mouth portion comprising a mounting plate having an aperture formed therein, and a springbiased cylindrical grommet mounted within said aperture, said grommet adapted to be positioned over the outer surface of the jet nozzle extending from the manifold, said grommet further including an annular portion which is adapted to snap into an annular groove formed on the jet nozzle, said tubular member further having a second end which is adapted to be mounted on a support bar. 

1. A burner assembly for utilization in a combustion chamber of a heating appliance comprising: a manifold extending across the front face of the combustion chamber; a support assembly located on the rear side of the combustion chamber; at least one burner having a first end having a mounting plate located thereon, and a second end supported on the support assembly; a jet nozzle extending into the first end of a registering burner, said jet nozzle being connected to the manifold and having an annular groove formed thereon; and a spring-biased cylindrical grommet connected to the mounting plate of the first end of the burner, said cylindrical grommet comprising an annular portion adapted to be snapped into engagement with the annular groove of said jet nozzle.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cylindrical grommet is of a split cylinder construction that is adapted to be inserted into an aperture formed on the mounting plate of the burner.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support assembly includes a support bar having a plurality of slots formed therein with the second end of said burner comprising a flanged portion that is adapted to be inserted into a slot formed on the support bar.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein the slot formed on the support means is of such a length to permit the burner to be removed rearwardly a sufficient distance to enable the first end thereof to move to the inner side of the jet nozzle for attachment therewith.
 5. A burner for connection to a manifold in a heating appliance comprising: an elongated tubular member having a first end forming a mouth portion, the mouth portion comprising a mounting plate having an aperture formed therein, and a spring-biased cylindrical grommet mounted within said aperture, said grommet adapted to be positioned over the outer surface of the jet nozzle extending from the manifold, said grommet further including an annular portion which is adapted to snap into an annular groove formed on the jet nozzle, said tubular member further having a second end which is adapted to be mounted on a support bar. 